Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-94fs2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-09T14:56:35.903Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Comparison of interspecific competition and N use in pea–barley, faba bean–barley and lupin–barley intercrops grown at two temperate locations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 May 2005

M. TRYDEMAN KNUDSEN
Affiliation:
Organic Farming Unit, Department of Agricultural Sciences, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Højbakkegård Alle 10. DK-2630 Taastrup, Denmark
H. HAUGGAARD-NIELSEN
Affiliation:
Organic Farming Unit, Department of Agricultural Sciences, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Højbakkegård Alle 10. DK-2630 Taastrup, Denmark Present address: Risø National Laboratory, Plant Research Department, Building PRD-301, P.O. Box 49, Frederiksborgvej 399, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark. Email: [email protected]
B. JØRNSGÅRD
Affiliation:
Organic Farming Unit, Department of Agricultural Sciences, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Højbakkegård Alle 10. DK-2630 Taastrup, Denmark
E. STEEN JENSEN
Affiliation:
Organic Farming Unit, Department of Agricultural Sciences, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Højbakkegård Alle 10. DK-2630 Taastrup, Denmark

Abstract

Mixed intercropping of spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) with field pea (Pisum sativum L.), faba bean (Vicia faba var. minor L.) or narrow-leafed lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.) was compared with sole cropping in two field experiments at different locations, on a sandy loam soil and a sandy soil, in Denmark in 2001.

Grain legumes were dominant in intercrops on the sandy loam soil, except for lupin, whereas barley was dominant in intercrops on the sandy soil site. Combined intercrop grain yields were comparable to grain yields of the respective sole cropped grain legume or sole cropped, fertilized barley on each soil site. On the sandy loam soil, pea–barley and faba bean–barley intercrops increased the proportion of plant N derived from N2 fixation in grain legumes and increased the barley grain N concentration (from 1·7 to 2·2 mg/g) compared with sole cropping. However, the later maturity of faba bean compared with barley caused problems at harvest. The grain N concentration of intercropped barley was increased where grain legumes were the dominant intercrops and not on the sandy soil site. Lupin-barley intercrops did not show intercropping advantages to the same degree as faba bean and pea, but lupin constituted a more stable yield proportion of the combined intercrop yield over locations.

Furthermore, the study indicated that the natural 15N abundance at certain locations might not always be sufficient to ensure a reliable estimate of N2 fixation using the 15N natural abundance method.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 2004 Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)